How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Lawyer After a Car Accident in Little Rock?
In the aftermath of a car accident, injured victims often face an avalanche of recovery tasks. With medical treatment, insurance paperwork, vehicle repairs, and more, it’s no wonder so many accident victims find themselves feeling too overwhelmed to even consider seeking legal counsel. But just how expensive is it to hire a car accident attorney in Little Rock?
Many accident victims are surprised to discover that hiring an experienced attorney may be more affordable than they thought. Let’s break down what it really costs to hire a car accident lawyer in Arkansas and how working with skilled professionals like the team at Greer Injury Lawyers can help support accident victims in their post-accident recovery efforts.
Personal injury attorney fee structures
Car accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means clients don’t pay any attorneys’ fees upfront and are only expected to compensate their attorney in the event that their case results in a win (either a settlement or verdict). If the attorney wins the case, he or she will receive a predetermined percentage of the client’s final award or settlement amount.
In Arkansas, as well as across the US, contingency fees usually fall between 33.3% and 40%, depending on certain factors, including the case complexity. This arrangement gives clients peace of mind and allows them to pursue justice without adding financial stress during recovery. After all, with a contingency fee, you don’t need to pay hourly fees or a flat fee upfront. This makes personal injury fee arrangements different from many other areas of law, like family law, estate planning, or criminal defense.
Legal costs and attorneys’ fees: Key differences
Attorneys’ fees typically cover only the legal services an attorney provides his or her client. These fees, however, are not necessarily inclusive of all the other case-related expenses a client may encounter in relation to their claim. Some examples of common legal costs for which clients may be asked to reimburse their attorneys include:
- Filing fees.
- Securing testimony from expert witnesses.
- Medical or other record retrieval.
- Acquisition of deposition transcripts.
It’s important to speak with your attorney to learn specifically how this might apply in your case.
Are attorney fees capped in Arkansas?
In general, Arkansas attorneys are free to set their fees as they see fit. There have been some legislative attempts to cap the fee, but currently, no such law is on the books when it comes to Arkansas car accident lawyers. Although attorneys’ fees are not capped in straightforward car accident and personal injury claims, there are other types of claims that may involve fee caps.
For example:
- Workers’ compensation claims in Arkansas are generally subject to a cap of 25% of the indemnity benefits awarded.
- Social Security Disability (SSD/SSDI) claims are federally capped at $9,200 for attorneys’ fees.
For standard auto accident claims, there is no legal cap on attorneys’ fees in Arkansas, but experienced lawyers like those at Greer Injury Attorneys will always ensure transparency and fairness in how fees are calculated. To ensure you aren’t blindsided by unexpected costs, speak openly and often with your legal team about the work they are doing and the potential financial impact it could have on you.
The costs and benefits of hiring a car accident lawyer
The decision of whether or not to hire a car accident lawyer can feel extremely daunting even for Little Rock’s most legal-savvy residents. While the sticker price of hiring an attorney may seem untenable in the wake of an already costly accident, the reality is that an experienced legal team brings huge value to the table and can actually help clients save money in the long run.
Car accident attorneys like those at Greer Injury Attorneys have ample experience handling the nitty-gritty tasks associated with car accident claims. From communicating with insurers to representing you in court, a caring and professional car accident lawyer can help their client achieve a better case outcome without adding to their long-term personal or financial strain. In fact, if you have a lawyer with a track record that includes taking cases to trial, the insurer will often be more inclined to make a strong settlement offer rather than spending resources to fight you in court.
Next steps
If you’ve been injured in a crash in Little Rock or anywhere in Central Arkansas, Greer Injury Lawyers is here to help. With decades of experience representing car accident victims in our community, our legal team has what it takes to help clients pursue the compensation they deserve without compromising their healing and recovery efforts.
Give us a call today or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free case consultation with a member of our team. We would love to learn more about your case and share how our compassionate and dedicated legal team can help you recover the damages you deserve.
At Greer Injury Lawyers, PLLC we do everything in our power to assuage those fears, and to help our clients find resolutions to their problems. Our Little Rock based law firm offers a wide variety of legal services to individuals and families throughout Arkansas. When you are hurt, you can trust the injury attorneys of Greer Injury Lawyers.